Lawmakers seek watchdog review of federal hacking of Americans
Brief
A pair of lawmakers wants a watchdog agency to probe how the federal government hacks Americans, including with the use of spyware, and deliver a report to the public.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. , and Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, wrote to the Government Accountability Office on Friday to request the review.
“While federal law enforcement agencies have used hacking and spyware as an investigative tool for more than 25 years, there exists little public information regarding its scope, frequency, or operational safeguards,” they wrote. “Unlike traditional surveillance authorities, such as wiretaps or pen registers, the government does not publish annual reports for hacking operations.”
The issue of U. S. government spyware usage has grown in prominence in President Donald Trump’s second term, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement has acknowledged working with spyware firm Paragon .